Once Upon A Time High

Chapter Four

                                      --- What can I say? Disney likes owning disney.---

ESMERALDA

Esmeralda had never intended to seem mysterious or elusive. In fact, she had no idea that she was perceived this way, but she did notice the attention that followed her everywhere. It wasn't unwanted attention or stifling attention that made her feel like her life was on display, but, in the corner of her eye, she could always spot a few people who were watching her. She just assumed it was because she had popular friends or, perhaps, because she always seemed to be involved in cool events and activities. But to her classmates, Esmeralda was a diamond in the rough; a beautiful, witty, young woman who glided through life with ease. But Esmeralda didn't find herself particularly graceful; she had a fluidity to her that allowed her dance beautifully but got into more than her fair share of collisions in the hallway due to her clumsiness and her tendency to daydream.

She was just leaving English when she ran into someone else. She had been running through the moves from a new dance in her head in anticipation for a competition that weekend. The impact of the hit sent both parties sprawling on the floor.

"I'm so sorry," She apologized, laughing slightly at her own klutziness. She began to pick up her books and stood up while fixing her green shirt that had tangled itself during the fall.

"No, it was my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you okay?" A handsome blonde with bushy eyebrows and the beginnings of a goatee asked. She brushed him off, insisting that she was fine, but the teen refused to believe that she was alright.

"Honestly, Phoebus, I'm good," she laughed, exposing a row of pearly white teeth. Nonetheless, the football player walked her to her locker, already quite smitten with her.

"So, why haven't I seen you around before?" He asked her and Esmeralda felt a blush creep onto her cheeks. She was surprised by how interested he seemed in her and was rather flattered by it.

"How do you know that you haven't? She joked, her bright green eyes glowing with mirth. She looked into his dark eyes and couldn't help but feel at ease with him. He was so kind and calm; she could understand why so many girls were in love with the tall boy.

"Oh I know. I don't thank that I could be capable of forgetting you." He said quickly and then flushed. He had clearly not planned on saying that last line out loud, but this only made Esmeralda's smile grow as she left him to join her friends.

"Maybe, we'll run into each other again soon," She said with a wink and strode over Charming and Belle, who were already seated under a tree. She sat down next to them, a small smile still playing on her face as she opened her brown paper bag and pulled out a sandwich.

"What's going on with you?" Damon Charm teased, "Has Phoebus placed his spell on you?" He had seen the brawny boy walk her to lunch and was a little upset that he had never considered him as a potential suitor for his friend before.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Esmeralda stated in mock seriousness before breaking down in giggles, "Is it that obvious?" Her dark haired friend laughed with her before pitching in.

"In French we'd say that you've been bitten by the insecte d'amour. How knows, maybe he's your soul mate," She smiled warmly at Esmeralda, her hopeless romantic side shining through. The petite brunette was always wrapped in some book and Esmeralda didn't doubt that it influence her perception of love.

Belle changed the subject by asking about big dance coming up. Apparently, her old school didn't really have dances and she was both excited and anxious about the event. While Charming described the event in great detail to their new friend, Esmeralda thought about her encounter with the cute athlete and fantasized running into him again. Little did she know, Phoebus was doing the exact same thing.